Who: 30-year-old Erin Tiernan and 46-year-old Monica Trust
Where: Owl Head, Pemigewasset Wilderness, New Hampshire
Their mistake: The hiked on a not-so-ideal day, but they did do some things right
What happened: Two women went for a hike during heavy rain to the summit of Owl’s Head, a 4,025-foot peak in the Pemigewasset Wilderness. The trip was 18 or 19 miles round trip and plausible – even during heavy rain.
The women made their way to the summit and were on their descent back to the car. Heavy rains that pounded the area all day flooded the brooks and made some of the stream crossing impossible. The women then bushwacked to look for another way back to their car, but they were unable to find a safe way to cross.
In the meantime, a friend of the women called authorities to report the hikers overdue. Like responsible hikers, the women left a detailed itinerary of their hike with friends. Their friends were able to tell authorities their location.
The next morning, Fish and Game officers along with volunteers from the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue group set out to look for the hikers. At 9:30 a.m., the overdue hikers were found. Water levels at the crossings were still do dangerous to traverse, so the rescue team set up a rope traverse to get the across safely.
Even bettering the situation, the hikers brought a tarp and extra rations that helped them survive overnight. Their exact condition was not reported.
Read the story here.
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